Captain Nemo, outer, was terrific in winning last start but he has a nightmare draw this week.
Tommy right in it from four on Friday but last-start winner Nemo has a nightmare draw
By Barry Lichter • 22 December 2022
If things go to plan, Tommy Lincoln can run top four for Lincoln Farms at Albion Park on Friday, says trainer Mark Dux.
But a horror outside draw has taken brave last-start winner Captain Nemo right out of contention in his event.
Tommy Lincoln starts from four on the gate in the final race, giving him the chance to cross to the lead with three lesser lights drawn inside him.
That’s a stark contrast from his last start two weeks ago when, from the outside of the gate in the Lord Mayors Cup, he was always out the back.
Despite beating only one home, Tommy, a $146 outsider, was clocked over his last 800 metres in a slick 54.33, and 400 in 26.97, his sectionals again right up with the money-winners.
Mach Da Vinci ran 53.92 and 26.55, no better than Tommy’s effort given he travelled 14 metres more in the running.
“He (Mathew Neilson) let Tommy coast up the straight too, didn’t knock him around.
“He’s running consistently fast sectionals. In these races it’s just where you land and how the race is run. Not many can come from the back.
“This week we’ve got to roll the dice - go forward and hopefully put him on the front end.”
Dux says the speed Tommy’s been showing at the start gives him a good chance of crossing Escalera, drawn immediately inside him.
“We just don’t want to fire him up too much and run the risk of him cutting his air off again.
“It will all depend on how much work we have to do at the start. If we can get the lead easily enough he’ll be more than competitive. I could see him being right there.
“Uncle Shank and Turn It Up are the two to beat over a mile but the only one I’d like to hand to is Uncle Shank. We don’t need to end up three back.”
Dux says his daughter Madi, home from Leeton in New South Wales for Christmas, will have no option but to drive Captain Nemo cold in the seventh race and hope he can run home.
“It’s a nightmare of a draw and a tough field. I’d have preferred the back row to seven.
“He’s been wanting to run the gate but she’ll have to try to get him back and take short cuts. He went terriffic (to win) the other day but you’d gut him trying to go forward in this field unless a lot of them dragged back hard.”
Captain Nemo races at 6.50pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
Tommy Lincoln races at 8.25pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
